Thermal to eletric converting cell

Abstract

Disclosed are a metal support thermal to electric converting cell, a thermal to electric power generator using the same, and a method for manufacturing the thermal to electric converting cell. Unlike a conventional method for manufacturing the thermal to electric converting cell by sintering a solid electrolyte, a method provided by the present invention is to manufacture the thermal to electric converting cell by coating a metal support capable of collecting electricity and functioning as an electrode with the solid electrolyte in the form of a high density thin film, so that the cell has durability and stability at a high temperature and a high pressure and has improved efficiency due to the thin film structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A metal support thermal to electric converting cell comprising:
 a tubular metal support;   a solid electrolyte formed on the surface of the metal support; and   a porous electrode formed on the surface of the solid electrolyte.   
     
     
         2 . The metal support thermal to electric converting cell of  claim 1 , further comprising a porous electrode functional layer between the metal support and the solid electrolyte. 
     
     
         3 . The metal support thermal to electric converting cell of  claim 2 , wherein a material of the porous electrode functional layer comprises at least any one of molybdenum, nickel, aluminum, PtW, RhW, TiC, TiN, SiN, RuO and Ru 2 O. 
     
     
         4 . The metal support thermal to electric converting cell of  claim 1 , wherein the metal support is a porous metal support. 
     
     
         5 . The metal support thermal to electric converting cell of  claim 4 , wherein a material of the porous metal support comprises at least any one of molybdenum, titanium, tungsten, copper, nickel, nickel-iron alloy, stainless steel, iron and bronze. 
     
     
         6 . The metal support thermal to electric converting cell of  claim 5 , wherein the solid electrolyte is a beta alumina solid electrolyte or a Na super-ionic conductor (NASICON) solid electrolyte, and wherein the solid electrolyte is formed in the form of a thin film. 
     
     
         7 . The metal support thermal to electric converting cell of  claim 6 , wherein a material of the porous metal support comprises molybdenum, nickel, aluminum, PtW, RhW, TiC, TiN, SiN, RuO and Ru 2 O. 
     
     
         8 . A metal support unit thermal to electric power generator comprising:
 the thermal to electric converting cell of  claim 7 ;   a case;   a working fluid which is disposed within the case;   a condensing unit which is disposed on the upper portion of the case and collects and condenses the working fluid which has passed through the thermal to electric converting cell;   an evaporator which is disposed on the lower portion of the case, converts the working fluid into vapor by transferring heat to the working fluid and then transfers the working fluid vapor to the thermal to electric converting cell;   a circulator which connects the space the condensing unit to the space of the evaporator to thereby allow the working fluid to be transferred; and   a joiner which joins the evaporator to the thermal to electric converting cell.   
     
     
         9 . The unit thermal to electric power generator of  claim 8 , wherein the thermal to electric power generator further comprises a heat source heating the lower portion of the case. 
     
     
         10 . The unit thermal to electric power generator of  claim 9 , further comprising a power generating unit which is electrically connected to the electrode and the metal support, and controls electricity generated in the thermal to electric converting cell of the unit thermal to electric power generator. 
     
     
         11 . The unit thermal to electric power generator of  claim 10 , wherein the joiner of the unit thermal to electric power generator is formed of an electrical insulating material such that the electricity generated in the thermal to electric converting cell flows to the power generating unit. 
     
     
         12 . The unit thermal to electric power generator of  claim 11 , wherein the joiner comprises:
 an insulating alpha-alumina; and   a metal tube for improving joinability.   
     
     
         13 . The unit thermal to electric power generator of  claim 8 , wherein the working fluid is an alkali metal. 
     
     
         14 . The unit thermal to electric power generator of  claim 13 , wherein the alkali metal comprises at least any one of Na, K and Li. 
     
     
         15 . The unit thermal to electric power generator of  claim 8 , wherein the condensing unit comprises a capillary wick and a condenser. 
     
     
         16 . A thermal to electric power generator comprising;
 a plurality of the thermal to electric converting cells of  claim 7 ;   a case;   a working fluid which is disposed within the case;   a condensing unit which is disposed on the upper portion of the case and collects and condenses the working fluid which has passed through the thermal to electric converting cell; an evaporator which is disposed on the lower portion of the case, converts the working fluid into vapor by transferring heat to the working fluid and then transfers the working fluid vapor to the thermal to electric converting cell;   a circulator which connects the space the condensing unit to the space of the evaporator to thereby allow the working fluid to be transferred;   a joiner which joins the evaporator to the thermal to electric converting cell;   a power generating unit which is electrically connected to the electrode and the metal support, and controls electricity generated in each of the thermal to electric converting cells; and   a heat source which heats the lower portion of the case.   
     
     
         17 . A method for manufacturing the metal support thermal to electric converting cell of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 (i) manufacturing the tubular metal support formed of a metallic material;   (ii) forming the solid electrolyte coating layer on the surface of the metal support in the form of a thin film by using a coating process; and   (iii) forming the porous electrode on the surface of the solid electrolyte coating layer.   
     
     
         18 . A method for manufacturing the metal support thermal to electric converting cell of  claim 2 , the method comprising:
 (i) manufacturing the tubular metal support formed of a metallic material;   (ii) forming the porous electrode functional layer on the surface of the metal support;   (iii) forming the solid electrolyte coating layer on the surface of the porous electrode functional layer in the form of a thin film by using a coating process; and   (iv) forming the porous electrode on the surface of the solid electrolyte coating layer.   
     
     
         19 . The method for manufacturing the metal support thermal to electric converting cell of  claim 17 , wherein the forming the solid electrolyte coating layer is performed by using at least any one of a thermal spray coating and a plasma coating.